Academy Award® and Emmy®-nominated director Ondi Timoner has been named the Honored Guest for at the CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival which marks its 10th anniversary this year. The milestone event will take place in person in downtown Bellingham from April 30–May 4, followed by an online festival version from May 7–17.
“Ondi is one of the most important documentarians working today. Not only is she an immensely talented and dedicated filmmaker, Ondi has her finger on the pulse of contemporary sociocultural life in a way that few others have,” said critic and festival program director Claudia Puig. Timoner’s selection follows the successful screening of her film All God’s Children at last year’s festival, and her vital contributions to the industry made her the natural choice for this year’s Honored Guest.
Timoner will attend the festival, which will include a special screening of her 2004 film DIG!, which features the Portland-based band The Dandy Warhols.
Timoner holds the distinction of being the only filmmaker to receive the Sundance Grand Jury Prize twice: first for the rock-documentary masterpiece DIG! and again for We Live in Public. Her film Last Flight Home won the 2023 Humanitas Prize. Her career is defined by “breaking glass ceilings” and a commitment to equity, including:
–Focus on Female Perspectives: From her early work Voices From Inside Time (1994) to her current projects, Timoner has consistently centered marginalized voices and challenged societal perceptions. “She is fearless in tackling difficult subjects that most filmmakers would stay away from,” noted festival director Cheryl Crooks.
–Industry Leadership: Timoner currently chairs the Nonfiction for Special Projects at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and is a recipient of the Humanitas Prize and the Visionary Award for Documentary Excellence at DOC NYC.
–Active Advocacy: A frequent voice on panels such as “The Women in the Driver’s Seat,” she works to ensure women’s stories remain central to the cultural conversation.
Featured programming: A Masterclass, new works, and DIG!
In celebration of her visit, the festival will also screen Timoner’s powerful and personal Last Flight Home on Friday, May 1. Oscar-shortlisted and Emmy-nominated, the film is a stunning verité account of her family banding together during their final weeks with their extraordinary patriarch as he decides to exercise his right to Medical-Aid-in-Dying in California,
Festivalgoers will not want to miss a special presentation on documentary filmmaking, “How to Make a Great Documentary,” presented by Timoner on Friday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at the Mount Baker Theatre. The program will include a screening of her latest short film, All the Walls Came Down, a deeply personal 38-minute documentary detailing the Alta Dena ,Calif. fire in which Timoner and her wife lost their home. The film was short-listed for an Academy Award.
CASCADIA will also present the cult classic DIG! (2004) as a special late-night partnership with The Pickford Cinema. Now preserved in the archives of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the film explores the volatile collision of art and commerce through the relationship between The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Portland-based band The Dandy Warhols.
Ten Years of CASCADIA
The 2026 festival marks a decade of showcasing global talent while spotlighting the Pacific Northwest as a premier destination for the arts. CASCADIA remains dedicated to an inclusive industry where diverse stories are not just told, but celebrated.
“Ondi Timoner’s work is a prime example of the work we champion as we work for a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse film industry,” said Crooks. “We are thrilled to have her join us as we celebrate ten years of discovery and development in women’s filmmaking.”
The full lineup will be announced on March 20.
The annual film festival has officially launched Early Bird All Access Pass sales. Available now through March 22, these limited-quantity passes offer a $70 discount, providing the most comprehensive and affordable way for cinema lovers to experience the full breadth of this year’s programming. Pass holders will enjoy priority seating for all in-person screenings at the Pickford Film Center and reserved seating for the Honored Guest presentation at Mount Baker Theatre, in addition to other perks and benefits.
